Hello people,
I'm a high school student currently doing AP Calculs. Uptill now i was using a TI86 to solve problems, most people in my class use a TI84+, and i noticed that my calculator was pretty slow compared to theirs.
For Example, integrating the expression: cos(sqrt(x)+x),x,0,60 (in radian mode) use to take almost 2 min to calculate (ans is -1.19075).
Nyways, the point is, now i use a TI89 Titanium, which is faster than the TI86 in the sense that it takes about a min to solve the above expression. Wat suprisses me is that a TI84+ only takes 10 seconds!(Headbang)
Does anyone know why is it like this or is their a problem with my calculator? also i dont hav a lot many apps and stuff installed. Can the battery be the problem?
Thaks in advance.

PS: It would be great if somebody using a TI89 could solve the above expression and see how long it takes...

Apr 12th 2009, 07:20 PM

Reckoner

Quote:

Originally Posted by omnivore

PS: It would be great if somebody using a TI89 could solve the above expression and see how long it takes...

Mine took 28 seconds. The input was

Code:

nInt(cos(

(x)+x),x,0,60)

If you use the regular integration function, (), it will take longer since the calculator will first try to integrate the expression symbolically.

And this answers the question in your title: the TI-89 can do symbolic manipulation; the 84+ cannot. Personally, being able to do symbolic integration is much more important to me than having slightly faster numeric integration.

Apr 12th 2009, 07:40 PM

omnivore

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reckoner

Mine took 28 seconds. If you use the regular integration function, (), it will take longer since the calculator will first try to integrate the expression symbolically.

Thanks Reckoner! that answered the other question i had. :) i tried using nInt and it took about the same time as yours which is pretty reasonable.

Also, i agree with you about the part that its beter to have more features than just speed. Its a pity i cant use them in the exams though(Thinking)